What to do during February Vacation week

Nothing makes a kid cheer more than a mini-vacation away from school. However, parents don’t usually share the same enthusiasm for these breaks as the kids. A day or two off from school begs the question, how will I entertain my kid? Luckily for parents, Berkshire Museum is packed with fun activities to entertain everyone in the family during winter’s upcoming February Vacation week.

WeeMuse: 10 Days of Play- A Pop-Up Adventure Playground (Thursday, February 14 through Saturday, February 23, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sunday starting at noon) will be in full-swing for the week-long school vacation. Participation in this event is free with Museum admission. Ten Days of Play is a celebration of child-directed play. Parents are encouraged to step back and let their children lead playtime as they see fit. This type of play will be done with an assortment of recyclable materials used to spark a child’s imagination. For more on WeeMuse: 10 Days of Play- A Pop-Up Adventure Playground, read my blog titled 10 Days of Play: http://berkshiremuseum.org/programs-events/10-days-of-play/.

Also happening during February Vacation week is a family performance of Pinocchio, presented by Berkshire Theatre Group (Monday, February 18 through Saturday, February 23 at 11 a.m.) Pinocchio tells the tale of a magical puppet who longs to be a real boy. Follow Pinocchio in this whale-of-a-tale full of magic and hope, where a simple white lie causes Pinocchio’s nose to grow. Tickets cost $15 adult ($5 members), $8 child ($3 members); children 3 and under get in for free. Ticket cost includes the price of Museum admission.

Students (grade 3-6) are invited to sign up for a Movie Camp with film producer Erica Spizz, Monday, February 18 through Friday, February 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Erica Spizz is an independent media production professional located right here in the Berkshires. Kids participating in the camp will be a part of all aspects of making a movie, from writing the script and acting out the parts, to learning how to operate a camera. On the last day, family and friends are invited to see the final product in the Museum’s Little Cinema. Camp participation is $250 ($225 members).

The month of February means one thing for avid movie-goers: the Academy Awards. On Monday, February 18 from 1:30 to 3:15 p.m., and later from 7:00 to 8:45 p.m., get a chance to view the Oscar-nominated short films from the animation category. Films include Head over Heels, Maggie Simpson in “The Longest Daycare,” Paperman, Fresh Guacamole, and Adam and Doc. Additional award-winning short animated films include Abiogenesis, Dripped, and The Gruffalo’s Child. Tickets cost $5.

Atka, a 10-year old Arctic Gray Wolf from the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, N.Y., returns to Berkshire Museum on Tuesday, February 19 at 1 p.m., in Animals Up Close: The Wolf. This event will be fun and informative for everyone in the family! Learn just how important wolves are to the ecosystem and their history here in the United States. Tickets cost $15 adult ($5 members), $8 child ($3 members); children 3 and under get in for free. Ticket cost includes the price of Museum admission. Watch the video to get a glimpse of how comedic Atka’s last visit to the Museum was:

Do you PechaKucha? On Tuesday night at 7 p.m., join Berkshire Museum for its fifth installment of the PechaKucha presentations. Leave the kids at home with a babysitter, or bring them along to listen to the most creative batch of 6-minute-40-second presentations you will ever see. Admission is $5 (free for members). Refreshments provided by the Wandering Star Craft Brewery. During the PechaKucha presentations, artwork for the 10×10 RAP (Real Art Party) will be on display.

The 10×10 RAP on Wednesday, February 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. (preview starts at 5:30 p.m.) is sponsored by the Berkshire Art Association, the Storefront Artist Project and Berkshire Museum. The art party is free, but you can purchase a $25 ARTIX which gives you the opportunity to bring home an original piece made by a local artist. This fundraiser benefits Berkshire county art students through travel grants and scholarships. The 10×10 RAP is part of Pittsfield’s second annual 10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival.

Don’t forget about Kitchen Ka-boom! on Saturday, February 23 at 11 a.m. Join Berkshire Museum’s two, mad science educators for a session of fun, scientific experiments. Space is limited, so it is first-come, first-served basis.

With all these fun activities going on at Berkshire Museum during February Vacation week, don’t forget to check out our ongoing exhibitions! Bats: Creatures of the Night is on view until May 12. Learn all about bats and the devastating toll White-Nose Syndrome has on certain bat species. Also on display is Nature Magnified: Photographs by Andreas Feininger open until June 2. This exhibit features dozens of beautiful shell images. Ansel Adams: Masterworks opens February 9 and is on display until June 2. This installment includes 47 photographs by Ansel Adams, taken by Adams himself, to represent his best work.

So if you dread February Vacation week, don’t fret! Berkshire Museum is here to provide enjoyable entertainment for all.